Many people find that walking with friends is a great way to get healthier - and a new study finds they are right.
Researchers in England found walkers who strolled in groups reduced their risk of stroke, coronary heart disease, depression, and other life-threatening conditions.
In particular, the researchers analyzed 42 studies of people who participated in walking groups to learn exactly what health benefits they received.
The studies involved a total of 1,843 participants in 14 countries who logged 74,000 hours of group walking. They suffered from a variety of long-term health ailments, including arthritis, dementia, diabetes, fibromyalgia, obesity, mental health issues, and/or Parkinson's disease.
The study found that people in the walking groups registered statistically significant reductions in weight, blood pressure, resting heart rate, and total cholesterol.
They also experienced improvements in lung power, general fitness, and felt happier than before they had joined the group walking groups. Apart from a handful of falls on wet ground, there were harmful effects from the activity, the study found.
"Our research shows that joining a walking group is one of the best and easiest ways to boost overall health,” said lead researcher Sarah Hanson, writing in the study, which was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
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